[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2094-H2095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues well know, 
just a few hours ago this body engaged in what I have heard many 
Members say was an enormously deliberative debate about the position 
the United States would take with Israel. I have even heard some of my 
junior Members suggesting that there was not enough time for us to 
engage in a more thorough debate to explain to the American people the 
heartfelt positions that many of us have.
  I was in that category. Because of the need to confine our remarks to 
a certain period of time, I felt compelled to share with my colleagues 
the road map that I think is imperative that we try and follow, away 
from any accusations or suggestions that the heartfelt, conscience-felt 
positions that many Members express are any less than any others.
  I think it is important to note that this Nation has a long standing 
history that cannot be changed of being a very close friend of Israel. 
It is a friendship born out of the recognition of our own commitment, 
our mutual commitment to democracy. It is a blessing from the 
perspective that the United States is a mosaic. We come from the 
continent of Africa. We come from South America. We come from the 
Mideast, both Muslim and Jew. We come from many, many places, and 
therefore, it is by this reason that there is a great interest in this 
Nation about the various issues that abound in the world because so 
many of us come from different places.
  It is for this reason that I would hope that the resolution offered 
today does not start any of us away from the ultimate goal. It is the 
preservation of our good friend Israel, but it is the recognition, as I 
said in my remarks, of the humanity and dignity of the Palestinian 
people, and as well, recognizing the value of the Palestinian State.
  I would like to address this question of whether this message of a 
resolution should, in fact, put a spear in the peace process. Mr. 
Speaker, these are only words. Words cannot keep anyone who is 
committed to the peace process away from the peace table. That goes for 
the United States, that goes for Mr. Sharon, and it goes for Mr. 
Arafat.
  I would say to the President that if all of us had had our wishes, we 
would have been involved in this process starting early on, but now we 
are at a point where the involvement is crucial. I think the 
participation of Mr. Bush is vital, and I would encourage him to 
continue that participation.
  I believe Secretary Powell should return, and as we return him back 
to the Mideast, I would encourage the Nation to give him our full 
support in the position of Secretary of State.
  I would offer to say that many times we have utilized past 
Presidents, and I would encourage the utilization of past Presidents. 
Let me cite as an example, I am not from Ireland, but I have had the 
pleasure of being engaged in the peace process in a limited fashion as 
a Member of Congress and remember traveling with the former chairman of 
the International Relations Committee the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman), making sure that we went to every single component of that 
whole process, meeting Gerry Adams and the unionists, and I cannot call 
all the names, but we were in southern Ireland and Northern Ireland. We 
did not leave until we met with every single component. We did not want 
anyone to believe they were not important.
  That is what I think our challenge is after this resolution. I do not 
want the words of this resolution to completely cause us to move away 
from peace.
  Let me bring to the attention of my colleagues, maybe they are not 
recognizing that the language in the resolution says in particular, 
among other things, it urges all parties in the region, all parties in 
the region, to pursue vigorously efforts to establish a just, lasting 
and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. It does not leave out 
Chairman Arafat. It does not leave out Prime Minister Sharon. It says 
everyone.
  Then the resolution also specifically states it encourages the 
international community to take action to alleviate the humanitarian 
needs of the Palestinian people. I would expand that to help rebuild 
the structure of Palestine.

[[Page H2095]]

  Let me again say, as I did on the floor of the House, my great 
admiration for many of the leaders of Israel, my great admiration for 
many of those who seek peace in the Mideast, but for Prime Minister 
Rabin, let me just simply say, as I quote Prime Minister Rabin, in 
1994, Mr. Speaker, cited Mr. Arafat as a good friend and accepted him 
as a person who believed in peace. Where is Mr. Arafat in this day and 
time?
  Let me conclude with these words, and these are words to Prime 
Minister Sharon and Chairman Arafat. ``We will pursue the course of 
peace with determination and fortitude. We will not let up. We will not 
give in. Peace will triumph over all its enemies because the 
alternative is grimmer for us all. And we will prevail.'' These are the 
words of former Prime Minister Rabin, the man who understood war and 
understood peace at Oslo in 1994, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. We 
will prevail if we can assure that we will all go to the peace table 
without question.

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